EIBF Challenges us 2026

 

This years EIBF theme is "Changing your Mind"  It’s a profound and wide ranging question – how do we find common ground – commonality? If one side uses banal slogans that will not move any conversation forward.

A positive are festivals, which can bring diverse people together to have explorative, informed conversations. Reading books is one of the best ways to understand different experiences, to learn empathy and expand horizons. 

Some excellent talks this year - Elif Shafak, AC Grayling, Colson Whitehead, Diana Galbaldon,

Plus 'Scotland of the World' –  with leading Scottish writers Ali Smith, Len Pennia, Kathleen Jamie, William Dalrymple along with international musicians, artists and performers. At Greyfriars kirkyard.

 

Expanding horizons matters greatly to changing your mind. Some of us have long held and entrenched views of the world. It can be very challenging to change our views. Some of us older folks view the world through an out-dated lens – stuck in the 80s or 50s. We must listen to younger people, or the wise academic, or pay attention to the arts. Creative people often hold deep insights.

 

Try to look at the world through a wider lens. Ignorance can hold us back and we must be open-minded to new ideas, to new conversations and to new perspectives, and to different cultures.

And on the subject of Scotland’s Self determination – this is about how we can improve democracy and better media for Scotland - and not about nationality or being British or Scottish.

As the sun goes down on the festivals for 2026, I’m always filled with a sense of loss and nostalgia – over the many unforgettable and fun times I’ve enjoyed here Edina over the past twenty years. The performers, press and organisers are all packing up, a little exhausted now but also inspired.

 

HOPE!!

According to a new poll – festivals offer people hope.

Elif Shafak

AC Grayling

Alexander McColl Smith

Almost 600 writers from 41 countries gathered in Edinburgh 15–30 August to present 600 events spanning fiction, politics, science, history, music, and live performance in a 16-day curated programme.

At a time of intense polarisation and entrenched positions, our 2026 theme Changing Your Mind invited audiences to stay open and curious, championing deep listening and celebrating our capacity to evolve our thinking, informed by a range of reliable experts and diverse perspectives. The Book festival curated a programme of voices, experts, and ideas, to create space for informed, nuanced public conversation, and encouraged new and alternative thinking - a much-needed alternative to debate driven by reaction and polarisation.

Major public figures included former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, technology writer Cory Doctorow, best-selling author Michael Pollan, and award-winning poet Claudia Rankine, alongside leading writers from across the world. A landmark event of the bestselling writers of all time, John Grisham, and iconic Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin together on stage, crowning The Front List line-up at the McEwan Hall.

Other renowned fiction writers include Maggie O’Farrell, Ann Patchett, Ali Smith, Jenni Fagan, Colm Toíbín, Matt Haig, Louise Welsh, Nao-Cola Yamazaki, Candice Carty-Williams,Ben Lerner, and 2026 International Booker Prize winner Yáng Shuāng-zi

GrGREYFRIARS Kirk became a Book Festival venue, hosting Scotland to the World - a new series connecting leading Scottish writers Ali Smith, Len Pennie, Kathleen Jamie, and William Dalrymple with international musicians, artists and performers.· 

Diana Gabaldon

**EIBF TALKS 2026

Jimmy Wales   18^th august  -    The Seven Rules of Trust

As trust in billionaire-owned social media platforms continues to plummet, it’s astonishing to see how crowd-sourced knowledge bank, Wikipedia – once a byword for dubious accuracy – has built up its readers’ faith to become one of the internet’s most clear-sighted information sources. Maintaining confidence in a landscape of untruths is important to Wikipedia’s legendary founder Jimmy Wales. We’re thrilled to welcome this key figure of the online age to discuss his book The Seven Rules of Trust. Chaired by Heather Parry. 

 

Colson Whitehead – Forntlist – 21 August  -  Cool Machine

 is one of America’s most skilled and essential storytellers, holding the horrors of history in one hand and big-hearted humanity in the other. After consecutive Pulitzer Prize-winners, The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, he concludes his acclaimed Harlem trilogy with Cool Machine: a portrait of hustle in 1980s New York. Join Whitehead, who is uniquely qualified to parse America’s past and present, for an energising conversation on why we can’t move forward without looking back. Chaired by Samira Ahmed.

 

Oliver Bullough, Everybody Loves our Dollars

24^th August 2026    Venue T   5pm

Following his oligarch-busting Butler to the World, Oliver Bullough returns to hang the world’s dirty money out to dry. In Everybody Loves Our Dollars, Bullough suggests there’s never been a better time to be a criminal in the UK. Moving and hiding money couldn’t be easier, and despite efforts to legislate, it’s estimated as much as 5% of world GDP is on the grubbier side. This revelatory conversation brings a murky underworld into razor-sharp focus. Chaired by Paul French.

25^th August 2026, Kirsty Gunn, Alan Riach, and James Robertson: Scotland 1926

100 years ago, Scottish literature was crackling with new energy. In this lively panel chat, Kirsty Gunn, Alan Riach, and James Robertson revisit the Scottish Renaissance through landmark works including Hugh MacDiarmid’s A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle, the early work of Neil M Gunn (newly reissued this year), and other under-sung voices including Willa Muir and Helen Cruickshank. Deep dive into a remarkable literary moment and the writers who helped reshape Scotland’s imaginative life. Chaired by Linden Bicket. 

 

AC Grayling: For the People - 25^th August 

The great British philosopher and academic A C Grayling’s appearances are always an intellectual highlight of the Book Festival, as he turns his forensic, yet empathetic, gaze upon defining issues of our time. This year, Grayling addresses the urgent theme of his new book, For the People, exploring how the forces of authoritarianism, election interference, and loss of faith in our institutions threaten the collapse of democracy, while offering bold suggestions for its survival.

 

Jeremy Hunt: Can we be great again

A major figure in the previous Conservative UK Government, Jeremy Hunt has served as Chancellor and Foreign Secretary, and led the Culture and (controversial) Health briefs. His Can We Be Great Again? is a timely read in a world of shifting geopolitical faultlines. Rebutting the idea that the UK is in inevitable decline on the international stage, join Hunt as he sets out a new take on how our influence can be used to positively affect global democracy, migration, trade, and climate. Chaired by Peter MacMahon. 

 

28^th August 2026 – 3.15

Colm Tóibín – author of 12 books including the multi-award-winning Brooklyn – is one of modern Ireland’s greatest writers. He talks with Chris Power about his breathtaking new story collection, The News from Dublin, exploring the lives of those living far from home: from Galway to Barcelona, Enniscorthy to San Francisco, and beyond. This promises to be an illuminating conversation with a true master of the craft.

 “Our theme 'Changing Your Mind' speaks to the moment we're in. At a time when opinions seem increasingly polarised and online debate is so divisive, we're creating space for thoughtful, nuanced conversations - exploring the reasons for our increasing social and political divides, and how we might change each others' minds, or at least agree to disagree, more agreeably. We're also looking at the potential of the human brain to adapt and relearn, and at the unparalleled power of stories to change our thinking.    Changing your mind is a lifelong process of staying open to new ideas. By bringing amazing speakers and curious audiences together, around knowledge and perspectives that help us challenge our assumptions and see the world differently, we hope the Festival programme this year will help us gain a deeper understanding of both ourselves and each other.”   Director, Jenny Niven

Nile Rodgers

I have a great memory back in 2012, American legend musician of disco and awesome riffs – who has worked on songs for David Bowie, Diana Ross and more – 'Nile Rodgers' gave such an entertaining impromptu talk at the EIBF Spiegel tent one evening, after his book festival talk that day.  

The Silk Roads EIBF 2025

 

In 2015, British historian Peter Frankopan changed the way we think about the historical relationship between East and West, with his book The Silk Roads: A New History of the World. The book shifted focus from the West towards Eastern civilisation, religion, and industry, and opened up research on previous eras of exchange and collaboration. 

The Silk Roads was a ground breaking book that explored the significance of the east on the development of ideas and trade: and shifted views of global power and on the history of our great civilizations. His new Silk Roads book is his updated version. 

 

Peter Frankopan, who is professor of Byzantine studies at Oxford university gave an energetic and enthusiastic talk, that at times also jumped with too much information overload and was not a seamless narrative. He praised the historic beauty of Edina. 

His book explores the spread of people, trade and ideas & religion (Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam) – across Persia before developing in the Mediterranean. He places the centre of the world further east, beyond Mesopotamia, and the Caucuses, in Iran and the “stans” - and not the Mediterranean. He spoke of the great city of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul which was the centre of the Roman empire. Also other great cities of Babylon and Mesopotamia. And the Mongol empire. The ancient Dunhuang at the British library. 

 

The Silk roads was first coined in 1871 by German geographer, Ferdinand van Richthofen. Christianity spread and Islam too. Science and philosophy spread from east to west long before the voyages of Columbus. 

 

He stated that the exploration of the silk roads was started by Alexander the Great who travelled across the Persian empire. He headed east to the home of the great cities and people and he brought the Greek culture to Indus valley and the Buddha was given form. Two thousand years ago Chinese silks were worn by the Carthaginians and Iranian elites used Provencal pottery. There were Indian spices in Afghan and Roman kitchens.

 

He challenges ‘euro centrism’ with fascinating stories of the rise of globalization. In 1492 there were the European voyages of discovery of the west outwards with the exchange of people, goods and ideas. In our European museums layouts we display firstly Egypt, Greece, and Rome and therefore view the narratives of civilization as centre around the Mediterranean. The Silk Roads is about how the Pacific connects to Britain and Europe. Trade changes history and access to rare metals and also caused the spread of disease.

 

However he ignores the achievements of the Far East – such as gunpowder, mechanical clocks and compass. Chinese paper making was brought to Persia (Chinese block printing 6^th century) and movable –type printing press Pi Sheng 1040. And India – science, maths, astrology.

 

Are the Silk Roads now only a bridge between the geopolitical powered of the west - Europe, North America, and to the emerging east of China and India? There is also no mention of the European enlightenment or the thriving life around the North Sea.

 

India has to choose between Russia and Europe. 

Russia is the biggest supplier of refined fuel, 

Shanghai, top 20 ports many into Africa. 

UAE investing in Africa.   

 

Peter Frankopan is a British historian, writer. He is a professor of global history at Worcester College, Oxford, and the Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research. He is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society. He is best known for his 2015 book The Silk Roads.

 

 

 

Nicola Sturgeon memoir Frankly at the Front list EIBF 2025

Former Scotland’s first minster Nicola Sturgeon, was interviewed by journalist Kirsty Wark at the McEwan hall to discuss her newly released memoir Frankly: as part of the Edinburgh International book festival 2025,

 

Wark: Sturgeon was first elected in 1991 and now 33 years later here is her memoir Frankly. She writes about her anxiety and being introverted – which she had to work to overcome. But that masking came at a cost. In eight and a half years she won eight elections. Sturgeon reflected that these were volatile times and an incredible period in Scottish history.

 

Wark commented that Alex Salmond looms large in her book. Nicola replied that he was a strong, charismatic leader and a force for good. They complimented each other. His approval mattered to her and his disapproval counted. Was it coercive control, Kirsty asked, Nicola didn’t believe so.  

 

The White Paper, Stronger for Scotland, Salmond couldn’t do the details and he never fully read the hundreds of pages Nicola believes, on his trip to China. (I have to assume the main people who read all the hundreds of pages, would have been unionist opponents). Alex both undermined and bolstered her. He was integral to her life and she felt a profound sense of sadness at his death. Alex advised her that her then husband Peter Murrell should not be chief executive – all rather poignant now. She spoke of all the optimism around the inydref. 

Sturgeon’s Record in Office, what was she proud of? She mentioned the Pre school education while this has still not reduced the attainment gap. Nicola said she was proud of Baby Box, doubling early years support and the Scottish child payment – but all this needs to work through the system. Nicola commented that poverty is a big part of the problem. She set up a National investment bank.

 

The Trans issue was a bruising time and highly polarising. Sturgeon wondered, could there have been a less divisive way? The tenor of the debate has been vicious, with all the prejudices of the far right and that these extremes need to be ignored. She appeared very tense during the trans chat.

The general election 2017. She had a severe chest infection. and thought she would collapse at the first leaders debate. Salmond lost his seat and he then refused to take her calls. 

 

The trial and acquittal of Alex Salmond - There was no evidence of a conspiracy: who leaked the story she questioned, as journalists didn’t know. The dark arts of media manipulation, the leak turned him into a victim. He said he behaved badly, with at times inappropriate behaviour.

Wark questioned was she collegiate enough, was she too insular? 

Nicola said she was enjoying being single and that she now hopes to travel maybe to Europe, to lay aside the glass bowl of Scottish politics. She was very young getting into politics. She spoke of reading more books – my passion, solace and inspiration. Wark mentioned the FMs Reading Challenge and support for libraries.

 

She said that things are stuck here in Scotland, but that they can come unstuck suddenly. There is no magic solution and that we must connect to the real challenges of poverty and the economy. After her chat one man said that he had lived over thirty years in Hong Kong and returned to a Scotland transformed. This was a very positive chat, with a supportive audience with clearly many SNP voters!

Many have questioned why the two Big Beasts of Scottish politics of our devolution era have ended up in the justice system: have ended up being hounded. What’s really going on? Herald journalist Iain MacWhirter, has questioned this on BBC Radio Scotland, asking why this has happened. After all we don’t have former PMs in the courts, even as we know there has been gross negligence and corruption. Both Sturgeon and Salmond have been taken in for questioning, and subsequently found innocent of all charges. (Salmond of inappropriate behaviour, Sturgeon of embellishment. And that big tent outside Nicola’s house). 

All day the book festival buzzed with press – both print journalists, broadcasters and photographers. From Scotland and abroad. Some were promised one to one interviews. But Sturgeon’s Press conference in the afternoon was a rushed affair. As if she couldn’t wait to get away. Then again she did have another event in Glasgow later to promote her new book

Mark Kermode Front list with Brian Cox EIBF 2025

Film critic Mark Kermode gave a Front List talk with renowned Scots actor Brian Cox, and Scots actors Kate Dickie and Michelle Gomez.

 

Brian Cox spoke of his background; he is 88% Irish, 12% Burnt island Scottish. He was in both Braveheart and Rob Roy films – he said that Braveheart was a lie and the film didn’t make sense and they didn’t have kilts then. Wheras Rob Roy was a really well written script and had a wonderful director. 

 

They discussed that all drama is politicised when you have a voice its important to speak up. Kate spoke of all the Palestine authors and shows at the festival (Put your soul in your hands and walk). She spoke of having to pretend that she lived in London to get work.

Mark Kermode

Kermode asked about their Scots Identity

Kate spoke: “I love England as a neighbour, but if you’re roof is leaking, you don’t ask your neighbour to fix it.” 

 

Brian: The boomers have dropped the ball and now we have to fight again. The horror of Gaza, Ukraine and Trump – we all have to speak up. There are good guys in America but they are not good with women.

 

We need good people: honest, true and good I don’t like Starmer. He doesn’t believe in anything, he’s closed everything down. Scots are authentic but have an inner depression. Scots are not boastful about what we’ve contributed. We should boast more for our self confidence. Scots are popular in America with many having Scots heritage. And by the way, Scotch is the correct term, and was used in Burns day!  As is used by Scotch whisky too.

 

His new film Glenrothan will debut at Toronto film festival  He said with directing you are a cog in the wheel, for everyone contributing. He spoke of troubled times at Edinburgh film festival, with tickets not selling.

 

Kate Dickie

Brian Cox's new film is a directorial feature debut called Glenrothan, a Scottish family whisky drama where he also stars opposite Alan Cumming. Described as a "love letter to Scotland," the film features Cox and Cumming as estranged brothers who reunite to save their family's distillery. The film was shot in Scotland and is expected to have its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025.

Brian Cox

Brian Cox and Michelle Gomez

Edinburgh Book Festival 2024

 

EIBF 2024

Since 2006 I have attended the EIBF. I would enjoy the fun, exuberance and festivities of the high street and after the walk down the mound and along George street to the relative calm and seclusion of the tree shaded book festival. A restorative juxtaposition.

 

Here I found a place of quiet reflection, big debate, colourful diversity, spontaneous conversations, intellectual challenge, famous faces, questioning politics. A place to anaylse or be informed. Intellectual freedoms and debates. There is also art, science, sport, history, economic and music and much more besides. It’s a place to refresh and for new ideas and interactions. .

 

EIBF was begun in 1983

EIBF is both national and international – with many well known Scottish authors – Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Alexander McCall Smith, Liz Lochhead, Christopher Brookmyre. Richard Holloway -  and also big names international names such as Elif Shakaf, Joseph Stiglitz, Margaret Atwood, Noam Chomsky and many more.

 

Neil Gaiman

Rachel Long

Simon Callow

This year the world leading book festival anticipates its brand new venue at the historic building next to the meadows  - with an expanded new outdoor Courtyard, the return of the Speigel tent and the Children’s tent in the courtyard, with lots of events and free activities to spark ideas and creativity.

Plus major events at the McEwan hall and food events at Elliott’s studio, Sciennes rd. 

 

My Top memories - One evening the Speigel tent was packed to hear an impromptu set by the Nile Rodgers! I felt so lucky to be there. He told stories of starting in Sesame street – and in-between played his songs with those very well kent riffs!

Another time was being mistaken for the famous Irish poet Seamus Heaney;s wife, on entering the book festival café, when Heaney we just ahead of me! 

 

I attend EIBF each year and its an unmatched place for informed debate, intellectual collaboration and creative thinking. Why are green activists targeting a place of free and open ideas for our future? When there are so many fake, ignorant click baits on so much of online media?

Ocean Vuong

This years theme is 'Future Tense' with a new venue at the Futures Institute – where Edinburgh’s famous Royal Infirmary once stood. And a new Scots festival director, Jenny Niven

 

Niven describes the Edinburgh festival as, “One of high octane and venerable, raucous and transformative, thoughtful and spontaneous….Is what brings the city to life, creating a playground for anyone who curiosity get the better of them. For ideas to take centre stage.”

“In a moment of such divisions and opposition – democracy thrives on good information, sanguine exchange  - the art of really listening and your voice deserves to be heard.”

TICKETS EIBF 2024 - https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/

 

**There will be several book festival themes - 

 

Future Tense - A toast to the future/ brilliant fiction/ future library/ generations/ data/ future politics/ imaginative realm.

How to live a meaningful life

Voterarma

Justified sinner